CANCER(June 21 - July 22)An inheritance or other source of unexpected money may be headed your way. Use the funds wisely, avoiding vices and risky behavior. A teacher or father figure may be going through a health setback. Be there to offer support. A secret may be shared with you. You've got big plans today. Make sure you set realistic plans towards achieving them. You are a capable multi-tasker and will be able to organize your time and resources well. Be financially secure is important as you map out a plan. Dream big but take one step at a time.

PISCES(February 19 - March 20)A relative, perhaps a grandparent or elder, may need your assistance as they endure health concerns. Visits to rehabs, hospitals or doctor's offices may engross you at present. Save time to rest and be alone with your thoughts. Lighter days are ahead. Change is inevitable and not to be feared. The world will make demands of you, given your position of power and responsibility. The quiet life, the joy of family, appeals to you now. Take care of your well being, as issues of health and fitness may arise. Today is the best day to appreciate people who serve you (and expect the same from people who you serve).

LIBRA(September 23 - October 22)Letting loose and relaxing appeals to you a lot right now. You are ready to indulge your creative side. Do some diplomatic and without taking any unwise risks. A romantic partner or family member may offer guidance or introduce new ideas. Get in touch with your faith. New relationships are in the works. Even old rivals are ready to befriend you. These connections are a positive outlet for your excitement and yield helpful alliances. Finances and deals will be made with the aid of those you enlist now. So spend time with friends or groups. Give people what they want. Be there to witness and listen.

TAURUS(April 20 - May 20)Work is productive and fulfilling right now. Your performance and talents have been evaluated and passed with flying colors. Enjoy the glory of this moment and any rewards offered to you. Today you are in harmony with both your work and home environments, willing to go out on a limb for those who matter to you. Home is full of comfort, joy and reciprocity. This is a time to revive your sense of security. Personal affairs take priority over world affairs at the moment. A willingness to listen to others will help solve the majority of your problems right now.

VIRGO(August 23 - September 22)Workplace disputes may be getting out of hand and causing you worry. Just continue to work hard and obstacles will be overcome. Volunteering or serving others would be a rewarding opportunity. Look after your health and finances, consulting family as needed. Time for introspection allows you to realize new things about yourself. You are examining your own values and reassessing your priorities. The search for meaning is uplifting though at times you may feel hesitant to act. Before starting on a new project or making a large scale decision, give yourself plenty of time to think.

AQUARIUS(January 20 - February 18)Not sure how to start anew? Something as simple as a fresh haircut could make you feel ready for the new phase you are embarking on. If you are looking to move up the ranks at work, display confidence and you'll succeed. Remain yourself of your strengths and happiness will follow. New partnerships and collaborations may be developing now, perhaps even requiring legal attention. Socially, you are enjoy stimulating conversations, wining and dining. A change is in store today. Whether you are prepared or not, the world will expect a lot from you. But what matters most is love and companionship.Some sudden, although likely minor, changes are in store. Family or friends may be erratic, hard to pin down, or simply absent when you need them. Your own mood may be rebellious or standoffish. Think twice before you act.

ARIES(March 21 - April 19)An accident affecting you or a relative, perhaps a sibling or uncle, may be causing stress at home. Take a break and get out to clubs and social events. The people you meet now may yield interesting networking possibilities. Work hard, party harder is the theme of the day. You feel generous, ready to share your bounty with others. Leisure and romance matter more than usual to you right now. You want to express feelings of affection and others are ready to connect. Try to rise about the mean, the small minded and plan something larger than life today.

SAGITTARIUS(November 22 - December 21)Welcome the opportunity to travel. A short journey may involve the chance to write, to make music or take photos and selfies. Effective communication is critical right now. A younger sibling or someone who is your age - needs you to speak as well as to listen. Be bold and display your creativity. Anxieties are possible but you handle them well. Don't worry too much about schedules or routines. There will be domestic shake-ups, new ideas and inventions for you to deal with. Socializing is possible, as are some fresh beginnings. Don't act without thinking things through. You don't want to risk all you have accomplished.

CAPRICORN(December 22 - January 19)Material things have your eye right now. Clothes, jewellery all appeal to your love of fashion and creativity. Enjoy all life has to offer. Revel in good company and good food. You are feeling rich in friends and talents right now. You feel newly empowered to concentrate on tasks at hand. Cash flow, liquid assets, even property and joint-funds will have to be handled. Take time to analyze your finances and sort out your life's circumstances. This way gains better results. Always remember that you can only solve life's problems if you meet them head on.

LEO(July 23 - August 22)A conflict with a relative or spouse may be on your mind. You may also be concerned about a financial setback. Make plans for the future today. Set up legal or business arrangements to bring you prosperity and peace in the future. Fresh perspectives await you and with these new outlooks, so new opportunities in yet another new moon phase. Material and emotional gain are on the horizon. Be get bogged down in negative emotions. Share your thoughts and ideas readily. Those around you are prepared to listen to your side of things. Conflicts will be pleasantly resolved.Decision-making can be challenging right now, as there is a basic conflict between your instincts and what you feel you should do. Inner imbalance between your body and your spirit can wreak a little havoc on your personal relationships. It is harder to get support from others due to your own inner struggle.

SCORPIO(October 23 - November 21)Home renovations or car repairs may be stressing you right now. Look for solace in nature or in connections with a parent or parental figure. You may need to learn a new skill to get the job done. The knowledge you gain will help with your plan going forward. Glory is yours today. Your talents are in demand and are noticed by others. Pending work will be concluded satisfactorily. You feel the freedom to explore and be creative. Matters surrounding authority figures will take center stage. Just give it your best and forget about everything else.

GEMINI(May 21 - June 20)You may have the chance to travel, perhaps even abroad. If so, be sure to watch what you eat and take care to avoid injuries or accidents. This is an ideal moment to reexamine your beliefs or to take a class and do some research into a spiritual topic. This is a time of good fortune so make the most of it. Home and family matter most right now. It's a time to emotional connection and tenderness. Soothe your worries by sharing household tasks. Reaching out is the goal, in person or via the phone and even social media. You might want to impress people with your creative flare today. All to the good, if not carried to excess.

Demonizing Loki

I dedicate this article to Loki, and his three beautiful monster children.

"Loki brings nothing but chaos and destruction! Hell ruin your life!"
"He killed Baldr! Cut off Sifs hair!" "He did very questionable things to my horse. I demand compensation." "Hes the father of monsters!" "Hes the Norse Satan!" (My personal favorite) This is some of the many things I have been told about Loki. Many Asatruars and other pagans fear and demonize Loki due to his misdeeds in the Norse lore. This was possibly due to Snorris depiction of him in the Prose Edda. Snorri, being a Christian, planted a lot of good vs evil seeds throughout the texts. This sprouted the demonization of Loki and his children, among the Rokkr.

...But in truth he isnt all that bad.

Heres why Loki shouldnt be demonized.

By Olivia Loptsdottir (Lopt)

Loki has many names. World-Breaker, Lie-Smith, Face-Changer, Questionable-Horse-Handler, Shapeshifter, Trickster of the North. Hes a very flexible deity in the ways of chaos, change and mischief. Loki isnt all sunshine and rainbows, thats for sure. But he isnt shy when he needs to lend a helping hand. Whether its to cause some chaos or its to heal.

"To heal? But Loki isnt a deity of healing! Isnt that Eirs job?"

Well, yes. Although, throughout the Lokean community, Loki has been known to take the abused, the mentally ill, the neglected, and the forgotten under his wing. He knows the pain of abandonment. Of sorrow. Of abuse. He knows the feeling of being hated. The feeling of being ridiculed and outcast. Lokis lessons are of a very deep variety. Of course its something that doesnt happen overnight. But for sure, its an eye-opener. To me, as well as other Lokeans, Loki is a god of beneficial -sometimes even necessary- change. And none of it is an easy task. Hell rip you apart. Takes very cherishable things and shatters them. He will pull out the problems you avoid and shove them into your hands and say,You need to deal with this and you need to do it now. Its now or never. He does it for the thrill. Thats the change he incites in you. The change you need to know that you can become a better person. Its painful. Loki knows how to make you jump and dance on your toes. He knows the way you try to sneak around to get to the easy way and he doesnt allow that. Its through the pain, that you start to heal.

"What kind of good could ever come out of Loki?"

Well
For starters, we have:
-Mjolnir
-An eight-legged horse
-Asgards wall
-Gungnir
-Freyrs golden boar and ship
-Making Skadi laugh
-Surtrs sword
-Sifs golden hair
-Thors belt and gloves
-Retrieving Moljnir from that time Thor cross-dressed as a bride.
-That one time when he rescued Idunn from that giant
And much more!
Any questions? No? Moving on.

"A god of truth? But Loki is called the Lie-Smith!"

As mentioned, Loki has many names. How did he acquire Lie-Smith? Well, most likely through his misdeeds in his adventures through the nine worlds. He cut off Sifs hair, made a bet with dwarves for his head, did questionable deeds with a horse. But despite all that, Loki knows how to push someones buttons and call out the truth. Such as an excerpt from Lokasenna. Loki was pushing everyone's buttons in Aegirs hall. They didnt even really deny it. It was just kind of like,Okay yeah I did do that thing, but you also did this and this and this so... between the gods and Loki. Lokis rule is to never lie to yourself, or others. Always speak the truth, even if your voice shakes. The truth hurts. No one likes hearing the truth. Not even the gods. Loki knows lies. But he also knows the burning truth and its sting, its bite. Loki encourages us to be honest with ourselves. When we arent, he tears us apart. And we help him when we fall into our own web of lies and deceits.

World-Breaker

Through your lessons with Loki, your world will turn upside down. And that is a promise. That is fact. No way in Helheim would you ever go through a lesson with Loki that wouldnt be painful, let alone uncomfortable at the least. Theres a reason he shakes up your world- To snap you out of your delusional fantasies and bring you back to reality. Hell tear into your personal affairs if he feels like it. Boyfriend, girlfriend, marriage, friendships. It makes no difference to him. Reality can be harsh, cruel, and unforgiving. Reality is where you really survive. And Loki teaches you that daydreaming can be easily shattered by reality. If you find yourself digging into your fantasies to escape a difficult situation thats affecting you in reality that you procrastinate to face, you best believe Loki will shut it down. No exceptions.
Ultimately, Lokis rule is: Self-Knowledge. No matter what you say to others, be it truth or lie, never lie to yourself. Know yourself excruciatingly well, even the ugly parts, and always be honest with yourself first. When you speak the truth aloud, remember that the greatest honor is in speaking the truth that no one wants to hear, and that everyone has been avoiding out of fear.

In total, Loki had six children. Two by Sigyn, three by Angrboda, and one by a horse. (Yes, you read that correctly. A horse.)

Three of these children have very prominent roles in the lore. Hela, Jormungandr, and Fenris. Each, of which, have their own lessons in themselves and their tales as well. Unfortunately, a lot of people demonize his children as well, due to their acts and deeds. But of which, are necessary for the events leading up to Ragnarok.

Fenris

Fenrir, along with his siblings, was birthed by Angrboda. The Mother of Wolves. He was only but a small wolf-pup, although soon grew in size. Each and every day, the gods grew more cautious around him in fear of his size. Until one day when the gods could no longer contain him. They held court and ultimately decided that Fenris must be chained not only because of his size, but of the foretelling prophecy that he would kill Odin at Ragnarok. Thor had smithed three strong chains, which all broke when put to the test with Fenrir. Then they went to the dwarves for advice. There, the dwarves smithed a very special, magical chain made out of six impossible things. This chain was called Gleipnir. The roots of a mountain, the beard of a woman, the footfall of a cat, the breath of a fish, the nerves of a bear, and the spittle of a bird all fashioned into a chain. Fenris suspected betrayal. He asked the gods for a token of goodwill, for one to place their hand in between his jaws as proof. None of the gods stepped forward, but Tyr. When Fenris realize he could not break the chain, he filled with rage. He snapped Tyrs hand clean off. The gods had chained him down in a cave somewhere in Niflheim. There, Fenris waits. He waits for the day to break free and exact his revenge on the gods for such a cruel fate.

Fenris is a deity of destruction. One of anger, and wilderness. In all of us, he represents the untamed, the wild, and the absolute insane. He represents the very nature of destruction and the destruction of instinct. Fenris is not a light deity to work with. His lesson is heavy. Lessons of mortality. They say all who look into his eyes and those who truly know him weep. To experience the sorrow and pain, as well as the anger, the destruction, and the rage weep for him. His mystery is difficult to understand and takes time to understand, as with everything else. But Fenris isnt just a being of destruction. He knows love. He knew love through Tyr, through his parents, and his siblings. He knows the love of his followers and loves them and protects them deeply.

His rule is:Shadow . Learn to love and find sacred all the parts of yourself, even the darknesses. Honor them by making a safe place for them, where they can neither be harmed nor harm others.

Hela

Hela (or Hel) Rules the realm of Helheim where the dead who have died a "straw death (death that is not gained through physical combat) go to rest until the events of Ragnarok unfold. When she and her siblings resided in Asgard long ago, the gods were cautious around her, due to her grotesque, yet exotic appearance. Odin then decided she would have rule over the dead in the furthest of the nine realms that is now what we know as Helheim. She frequently appears as a woman with half of her appearing alive, and the other in decaying death. She is truly a beautiful sight to behold. Death in her realm is not seen as something evil or something to avoid. Death is inevitable and it is a part of nature. Part of everyones life cycle. Being a death deity, she is very protective of the dead and looks down on necromancy or any practice that disturbs the dead.Death wont care if youre rich, poor, in between. Death wont care if youre famous, infamous, or an average joe. Death wont care if youre a bull, a frog, or a human. Death takes us all in the end no matter what. Be humble, for our graves are the same size. Through death, we bring life to others. While our body rots in the ground, we bring nutrients to the soil, flowers, and grass. Food for maggots, beetles, mushrooms and other decomposers. We bring food for the scavengers of the animal kingdom. Through our death, we feed life.

Above all, live your life fully with gratitude. Value your life. Life is as sacred as death. Live a life worth experiencing, and worth remembering when you finally travel to Helas hall. Its your only one, so dont waste it.

Helas lesson is that ofVision : Death takes the long view of all things, and so we strive to value far-seeing over temporary difficulties. Ask yourself: Will this matter in a year? Five years? Ten? After I am dead? Think ahead before you react, before you speak. Learn not to take things personally; people often react from their damage, and everything blows over in time.

Jormungandr

When Jormungandr was born, they were born without gender (maybe both!). Like his wolf sibling, he, too, grew in gigantic proportions, from puddle, to pond, to lake, and eventually to the ocean in Midgard where Odin casted him to, naming him the protective barrier around Midgard. He is possibly the most mysterious out of Lokis children. He doesnt limit himself to labels or boxes or tags. He is born without gender, yet may be both, neither, or up to your personal discretion for what you, as well as Jormungandr feel is best. Jormungandr is non-verbal. Yet, he speaks with such energy. He helps to embrace ones true self. Rather than sorting yourself out in different labels, he helps you to see yourself as one person. He helps to see that you are sacred. Its about understanding that nothing can be everything at the same time. The end is the beginning as he endlessly circles Midgard. Liminality. Think about gender fluidity. You could be one, be the other, be both, or be neither . Hes also been known to be ambiguous in gender identity. He goes outside of the boundaries of what's considered normal and teaches you to do the same.

So, if you feel youre outside of whats normal, embrace that. (unless youre a serial killer.) Dont be afraid to embrace the change that can only be brought on by you and only you to make who you truly are

Jormungandr rule is: Liminality. As the Snake is neither male nor female, both of Midgard and not of Midgard, so we see that the honorable and the sacred is most often found in that which crosses boundaries, bridges opposites, moves between worlds. We value that which is Both, and Neither, as one of the Great Mysteries.

In Conclusion , although these guys get a bad rap because of their appearance, their misdeeds, their nature, or even just because they are what they are, they have deep wisdom bestowed within them and within the lessons they teach. If you pursue this path, do not tread foolishly or without caution. Their wisdom is not gained lightly. It is gained through hard work of the self. Blood, sweat, and tears will be poured into these lessons. These are some hardcore deities. You might be surprised at what you discover.

Very enlightening and well written article. I really enjoyed this and it's very true though sadly the opposite is also becoming true. What I mean is primarily because of his depiction in Marvel cinema some have started romanticizing Loki yet don't really know a lot about the true Norse mythology. I guess if it inspires them to do proper research that's a good enough reason to become interested in him. He's a very faceted being with many different sides as another example of how nothing is ever simply black & white, rather there are many shades to the spectrum of a being's essence. Thank you Lopt and forgive my long winded post.